The War.

Chapter 9: Lost.

GUYS I KEEP GOING VERY OFF CHARACTER FOR SOME REASON BUT WTV I THINK A MAGICAL WAR WOULD CHANGE THEM AT LEAST A BIT RIGHT?

Mia rolled her eyes, wondering why Marjorie was crying. Just then, Marjorie noticed her through the slightly open door. "What do you want?" she shouted.

"Can I come in?" Mia asked.

"Fine," Marjorie said, sounding defeated.

Mia stepped into the room. "I'm sorry, Marjorie," she said through gritted teeth. "But you can't yell at a child, especially not on their birthday."

"I know," Marjorie admitted, her voice cracking. "I've just been so stressed lately, and I'm taking it out on random people."

Mia felt a twinge of sympathy. "Well, Ella is crying right now, so maybe you could start by apologizing to her?" she suggested softly.

"Yeah," Marjorie said quietly, nodding.

Marjorie apologized to Ella, and the young girl's tears subsided as she felt comforted once more. Mia watched as the snow fell gently outside, feeling a deep sense of emptiness despite having everything she had ever wanted—a loving partner, children she cherished, a supportive found family, and magical powers. Yet, the feeling lingered. Perhaps it was seasonal depression, or maybe something more profound. The winter's chill seemed to mirror the coldness inside her, leaving her longing for something she couldn't quite define.

Mia smiled gently as she watched Ella and Lila playing in the snow outside. Their laughter and carefree antics were a stark contrast to the heaviness she'd been feeling. The sight of them enjoying themselves brought a warmth to her heart, a reminder of the simple joys that could still be found despite the complexities of life. She felt a renewed sense of gratitude for the family she had, even amidst the chaos and challenges.

Mia decided to retreat to the attic, a space she found surprisingly comforting despite its connection to Roger's unpleasant past. The attic, with its distinctive window and impressive view, had become a place of solace for her. Sitting on the windowsill, she turned her gaze inward rather than out, focusing on the bookshelf that occupied the corner of the room. Feeling a need for distraction and comfort, she reached for one of the books, hoping it might provide some escape from her feelings of emptiness.

She picked out a book with "Whispers" on the cover. It was covered in dust, but as she wiped it off, she noticed the cover's intricate design. The book must have belonged to Siobhan; Roger's taste in books was as bad as his taste in fashion.

She began to read, getting deeply immersed in the second chapter. As she turned the pages, she noticed small notes scribbled in the margins—Siobhan's handwriting. "I didn't know Shibby read," Mia mumbled, intrigued.

She continued reading, finding the notes surprisingly personal. Each one gave the book a new layer of meaning. Despite the sadness in the story, Mia found the book comforting. She enjoyed the way it echoed her own feelings, providing a sense of companionship in its melancholy.

Just as Mia was halfway through the book, Charlotte walked into the attic. "Hey Amelia, what are you doing up here?" she asked.

"Reading," Mia replied without looking up.

Charlotte raised an eyebrow. "You bought books for yourself?"

"Not quite," Mia said with a chuckle.

"Ew, you're reading Roger's books?" Charlotte asked, wrinkling her nose.

Mia laughed softly. "Oh god, no. His taste in books was just as terrible as his fashion sense. This one was Siobhan's."

Charlotte's interest was piqued. "Ooh...," she said, sitting down next to Mia. She glanced at the book and the notes scribbled in the margins. "Look at all these notes. Do you think this was Siobhan's escape from her reality?"

"Maybe," Mia mused, her eyes scanning the pages. "It feels like she poured a lot of herself into this book. Like she used it to process her own struggles."

"I wonder how she's doing right now..." Charlotte said thoughtfully.

"Probably not too well if she's still with Roger," Mia said, shrugging. "But maybe she's found a way to cope or escape in her own way."

"Yeah, I hope so," Charlotte replied, looking at the book. "Sometimes we have to find our own ways to handle things, even if it means finding solace in unexpected places."

Mia nodded, closing the book. "It's weird how things can connect us, even when we're not really expecting it. Like, I never would've thought I'd find comfort in something Shibby wrote."

Charlotte smiled gently. "It's those little connections that can make a big difference."

As Mia and Charlotte were walking downstairs, they were startled by a loud crash followed by a blood-curdling scream. Ella's scream. Charlotte's face went pale with panic as Mia dashed down the stairs, her heart racing.

"Ella?! Ella?! Ella, where are you?!" Mia's voice was desperate, echoing through the house.

Mia burst through the back door and saw Lila standing outside, her face tear-streaked and terrified. "WHERE IS ELLA?!" Mia yelled, her voice cracking with fear.

"S-some guy took her!" Lila sobbed uncontrollably.

"A guy? Not a creature? A human?!" Mia's panic intensified, her mind racing.

"Yeah!" Lila cried.

"Oh god, oh god, oh god." Mia's breathing grew erratic as she struggled to maintain her composure. "Lila, go call Autumn right now! Tell her to come here immediately!"

"Okay..." Lila nodded, her voice trembling as she ran off to make the call.

Mia turned back to Charlotte, who was still frozen in shock. "Char, stay here and try to keep calm. I need to find Ella before it's too late."

Autumn arrived quickly, her face etched with concern. "What happened, Mia?" she asked urgently.

"Someone kidnapped Ella," Mia said, her voice shaky with panic. "I need your help. Your power is the strongest. We need to find her. Char, get the group together for a search. We have to find her."

Without another word, Autumn and Mia set off, their search frantic and relentless. They fought their way through numerous Eoldrans, but Ella was nowhere to be found. The sun began to rise, casting a cold light on their fruitless efforts.

Exhausted and defeated, Mia collapsed to the ground, her sobs coming uncontrollably. "I... I... we... Ella..." Her words were choked with anguish.

"It's okay, Mia," Autumn said gently, kneeling beside her. "We'll find her. Let's get home and regroup."

Autumn helped Mia to her feet, and they made their way back home. As soon as they reached the door, Mia rushed to Charlotte, her grief overwhelming. She buried her face in Charlotte's shoulder, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"I didn't find her. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," Mia sobbed, her voice trembling with guilt and sorrow.

"It's all my fault. I... I..." Mia's words were incoherent through her tears.

"It's not your fault, Mia," Marjorie said softly, trying to comfort her. "We'll find her. We're in this together."

Mia could barely speak between her choked sobs. "I needed to find her. I should have..."

"Shh," Marjorie said gently, "We'll get through this. It's not on you alone."